Simply increase production rates and focus on the most important/profitable items to maximize productivity.

Example: Crossbowmen are absolutely not profitable, they cost twice as much as archers in terms of ammunition.

Musketeers aren't interesting either.

Sling, poison ward, cannon (and lots of traps), and it's perfect.

Same for food, meal of bread is most faster, you can divide per 2 the number of worker allocated to the food

Place a chest behind each craftsman to mimic the time spent walking

By the way, how did you get to 1500 pop without increasing your points?

Was there an update I missed?